Posted: Jun 29, 2023
From Washington University Athletics
Senior Jeff Candell and junior William Houser of the Washington University in St. Louis men's track and field and cross country teams were selected to the Academic All-America First Team as announced by College Sports Communicators (CSC).
This marks the first-career Academic All-America selection for both athletes.
With the CSC announcement, WashU has now produced 216 Academic All-Americans, with 31 coming from the men's track and field and cross country teams. The complete list of WashU Academic All-Americans can be found here.
Across all divisions, WashU ranks eighth in total Academic All-America honorees and owns the third most selections in Division III behind Massachusetts Institue of Technology (MIT) and Johns Hopkins.
Candell, an Arlington, Mass. native, owns a 3.98 GPA with a major in computer science. Candell assembled a sensational senior campaign across the cross country and track and field seasons. At the University Athletic Association (UAA) Outdoor Championships, Candell bested the league in the 3,000m steeplechase as he claimed the event title with a time of 9:17.97.
Additionally, Candell ran the lead leg in the distance medley relay (DMR) at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships. The relay team turned in a mark of 9:50.40, which gave the Bears the sixth-best time in the country. At the UAA Indoor Championships, he was a part of the distance medley relay team that secured first (9:57.81).
In the cross country season, Candell placed 81st at the NCAA Division III Cross Country Championships as he registered an 8k time of 25:59.50. Candell also finished 18th (25:30.60) at the NCAA Division III Midwest Region Cross Country Championships and 14th (25:16.80) at the UAA Cross Country Championships.
Houser, a native of Glenview, Ill., is majoring in computer science and sports a 4.0 GPA.
Houser ran the anchor leg in the distance medley relay at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Houser and the rest of the relay team posted the sixth-fastest mark in Division III with a time of 9:50.40.
Furthermore, Houser secured two event wins (one individual and one relay) at the UAA Indoor Championships. The Academic All-American claimed the mile victory as he crossed the finish line with a time of 4:16.45. Houser also garnered a UAA title in the distance medley relay (9:57.81).
At the UAA Outdoor Championships, Houser finished third in the 800m with a time of 1:52.43.